The Tynecastle side Move 8 Points Clear Ahead at the Summit After Lawrence Shankland's Spot-Kick Defeats Celtic
History wasn't made at Tynecastle, since it's far too early for such landmarks. The encounter underlined is that Heart of Midlothian have a genuine credible shot of ending Scottish football's 40-year title duopoly. Make that an eight-point lead for the maroon side over the visitors, whom they easily dispatched. Try to chase them down.
Decisive Period in the After the Break
Three second-half minutes were key, once the initial exchanges that was evenly matched. The striking aspect after they took a 3-1 lead was how stress-free the remainder of the game was for the hosts. Kyziridis doubled the lead, moving infield before blasting a strike past the motionless Kasper Schmeichel. Delight increased in the stands, Dane Murray fouling Braga for a spot-kick that the captain converted. Rodgers looked dejected; challenges abound for him.
Supporters began celebrating after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) gives Hearts the lead against Celtic.
Hoops' Reaction
The away side responded positively from the hosts' quick opening. Dane Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, scored an own goal due to haste when trying to clear a delivery from Shankland. The Hoops worked their way into the game, skipper McGregor, finishing a Kieran Tierney pull-back for 1-1.
Solid Backline
The keeper Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Nygren in the first half, kept out an Engels shot which flicked off Tómas Magnússon. Halkett stopped a Yamada attempt in added time. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the minutes passed. “We stand firm” has become the popular anthem at the ground. It's hard to ignore the buzz.
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